Solar Consumer Guidebook: Understanding the Process of the Solar Decision

By Mackie Beall

Written by a solar expert who has been in the sustainability business since 2009, The Solar Consumer Guidebook provides insight into the process of incorporating solar energy into your “investment” portfolio for the next twenty-five years or longer.

By walking through the process of sales pitch meetings, proposals, and finally the implementation of solar panels at your house or place of business, this book gives a comprehensive guide for you to follow, one that ensures you get the best possible rate-of-return on your investment, while guarding against slick sales techniques meant to take advantage of you.

This book is perfect for both homeowners and business people interested in solar, whether you are a newcomer to the sustainable movement or a seasoned veteran!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
• Release date: Jan 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662929540

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Advice from an Experienced Energy Consultant

The typical homeowner relies on an energy provider to supply electricity for their house and property. Each month, the energy provider supplies electricity for the homeowner to use. At the end of the month, the energy provider sends an invoice that may include use of the meter, franchise fee, on-peak charges, off-peak charges, and multiple taxes that are indiscernible unless you do research to understand terms like DSIM and FAC that are charged by kilowatt per hour. Oh yeah, the invoice also includes a charge for the amount of electricity consumed during the billing period.

Have you ever thought about the endless cycle of consuming electricity and paying each month for the amount consumed at the current rate charged by the provider? Does it concern you that electricity rates will never be cheaper than today’s rates?

We, as well as our grandparents’ parents have accepted the mindless process of continually renting our electricity. Solar energy allows the homeowner an option to take ownership of their energy production rather than renting electricity from month to month.

When speaking with someone about a serious topic, it is usually important to know where one’s perspective is formed. I am a return-on-investment person. I work in the sustainable energy sector of the marketplace. My role is to help clients understand the impact of their decision to incorporate solar into their energy portfolio or maintain the status quo of renting their electricity and being hostage to future rate increases.

Not everyone will benefit from using solar energy to offset a percentage of electricity provided by your local electricity distributor. My recommendation is not necessarily to invest into a solar project for your property. My recommendation is for you to explore the possibility of taking ownership of your energy production.

The world of sustainable energy is driven mostly by do-gooders that seek to stop global warming and reduce greenhouse gases and the carbon footprint while making a profit for their business. I am not that guy. The financial component is my why.

After a career spent providing goods for the athletic and home décor markets, I entered the sustainability world in 2009. As a private equity startup, I jumped into a new arena with both feet. My focus was providing solar film to glass surfaces to reject heat before entering a home. In 2017, the business was sold.

The world of solar was parallel to my solar window film business, so I maintained